Greetings one and all ....

What was acomplished: we made up a 26 car train in 30 minutes.
How we did it (1): I ran the engine while JM acted as contuctor/switchman.
How we did it (2):

• a track was selected to build the train
• we pulled out a section of cars from a given track
• as each car passed a "line in the sand" the car reporting marks were compared to the switch list
  • if the car was on the list it was shunted to the "building track"
  • if the car was not on the list, it was placed onto, for the lack of a better term, "rejected car track"

NOTE: we did not go up and down the various tracks looking for specific cars

What I learned from the exercise:

• one must dedicate "A" track to build the train
• one must understand what other tracks are avialable to them for sending rejected cars and for room to pull cars out, cut them, then move them to the building track.
• track mounted uncouplers (magnets) are very nice to have
• local/expert knowledge really helps thus making training and development of operators (conductors and engineers) critical parts in making the rr run - just as important as making sure track is in gage for example
• read the switchlist - top to bottom as there is a lot of information that will help you to do a better job
• I feel like I can handle most any yard ... it may take me a bit of time to figure out how to make it work but once I find a track to build onto I am able to execute the job

Hope this helps
Best
JS

Hi John, when Bob B and I worked that yard, the problem was that there was too many destinations and outgoing trains to assign outgoing destinations to.   As cars arrived, we just placed them on whatever track was available. As we worked outgoing traffic, that is when, as Jim S explained, we would pull each track and setout any cars for the outbound train. We would then blocked the cars for the outgoing trains, which was necessary for dynamics.   It kept us very busy but it was quite enjoyable once we got the hang of it. Best , Andy 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Fri, Dec 9, 2016 at 7:41 AM, ProTrak.org wrote:

> Jim has suggested a day's worth of hands-on training as the first day of the Weekend.<

Interesting idea.  IN general Jim M should ALL of your yards be worked the way Jim S wrote about the other day?  Haven't heard any comments from Yardmaster specialist Howard G.  

Secondly - make the clinic on Yard Operations a feature when announcing your next weekend and use that to try to entice more users to come to a ProTrak weekend. 

Joe

Orlando